Chapter fourteen: Devotion in Latin.
About 6 AM, Kyra heard Snape stir and rushed to his side. He mumbled something again and opened his eyes.
" Good morning… how are you feeling?" She asked gently.
It took him a while for his eyes to focus on her figure and, when that happened, they widened in surprise.
" Miss Gardner, what are you doing here?" He asked, his voice still raspy.
" Better, I'd say. Would you like me to get you anything?" Kyra offered.
As his conscious had fully returned, he was horrified to find he was lying naked under a very thin sheet. And in front of… HER!
" Get me my clothes!" He roared.
" Okay…" She replied, good-naturedly, and complied. " Anything else?" She asked with a smile as she handed him his shirt and trousers.
" I am still waiting for an answer," was all Kyra got from him, as he hurriedly put on his black pants.
Kyra sighed at his stubbornness. " I heard you screaming in your dreams last night and I entered… you had fever and we couldn't find any potion to make you better…"
" We?" Snape interrupted her.
" Yeah, I had to call Dumbledore… You seemed very ill and I didn't know what to do, so..." continued Kyra.
" But what were you doing near these rooms?"
" I think a simple 'thank you' would do better than this interrogatory, Severus," remarked Dumbledore, entering the room.
" Headmaster."
Severus looked around and tried frantically to sit and recover a bit of his imposing figure. Kyra understood his need for regaining his dignity and helped him up, propping him with another pillow. Then, she handed him a glass of fresh water and he thanked her silently with his eyes.
" Good morning, Severus. I believe you should thank your student here. She found you ill and reported to me, and then we had to cool your body to make the fever go away. Miss Gardner stayed all night applying wet towels to your body," said the aged wizard, the twinkle behind his half-moon spectacles increasing with every word.
Full realization stroke Snape like lightning and he felt he would die of mortification. She had seen him without clothes! That woman had to stand the sight of his pale, thin body the entire night. He didn't think he would ever be able to face her again.
Kyra, who had been silent since Albus' entrance couldn't believe her eyes, was Professor Snape blushing? But before she had the chance to find out, a scowl settled on his now stony face.
" Why didn't you do it or just let me burn?! Why did you allow HER to stay here?!" He asked in outrage.
He was talking as if she hadn't been in the room and that hurt Kyra. Shaking her head, she willed away her tears, while she allowed her anger and frustration to take over.
" So sorry, Professor," she snapped. " Next time I make the obviously terrible error in judgment to be worried about you, I'll remember how nice you are and not even bother."
Severus was left speechless for a moment. He hadn't meant to insult her, let alone hurt her feelings. Knowing Dumbledore's eyes were set on him, he muttered an apology. Kyra simply acknowledged it with a nod and proceeded to set things in order around the room. The Headmaster finished telling Snape about what had taken place the previous night and then left, leaving student and teacher alone.
The woman turned to face him, all the anger gone and replaced by concern.
" Are you feeling better now, Professor?" She inquired softly.
" I am sorry you had to see that, Miss Gardner," he said as a reply, without meeting her eyes.
Kyra understood his anger was due to his own pride. He hadn't wanted her to see him that way; in so much pain, unable to do anything, completely helpless.
She shot him a brief smile. " I'm not. Look, Professor, I know you didn't want me to see you like that... but I'm glad I was here to help you."
" Indeed, you were of great help," he accredited before getting up.
He stood in front of her and Kyra froze, unable to make her eyes leave his virile figure. There were so many questions she wanted to ask him, so many feelings that she would have liked to voice; but she remained silent, only watching him.
He saw her eyes dancing over the sight of his naked half. He stood at the side of the bed trying to read her, feeling strangely agitated under her scrutiny. Kyra's eyes upon him were making him uneasy.
" Why are you studying me?" He asked, quickly, putting a black shirt on.
Kyra was still for a moment. " I wasn't. You were just... there... my eyes landed on you..." she stammered, something not even his cynical gaze during Potions had accomplished.
" It makes me feel nervous when people study me," he commented, openly.
" I'm not studying you, I'm just..." From that moment, Kyra fixed her eyes on the blue carpet.
" Evaluating my ugliness?" He offered scornfully.
Kyra's eyebrows shot up. " I never thought you were ugly," she remarked softly. " I just think you should take a bit more care of yourself. But I saw your hair the way it really is and your chest...now I realize you want to look like that!"
Without letting his face or voice betray the turmoil her words had caused to stir in him, he asked, " Would you like to know why?"
" Yes," she replied simply, watching him with great interest.
" Well I'll tell you. People hate me, Miss Gardner. They hate me before and after they get to know me well. If I have an ugly appearance, that'll make the painful process of their curiosity turning to hatred go much quicker."
The woman frowned and she held out a hand towards him, stopping in midair as she realized that, even after all that had happened, he was still her professor. " That's just awful, Professor!" She protested.
Snape shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. " No, it is not. And, besides, it helps me scare children."
She was quiet for a few seconds. " So you keep your hair greasy and everything... I can't say I agree with your reasons..."
" Why?" He interrupted.
" Because I know you and I don't hate you, the entire opposite, I love your company," said Kyra, looking at him straight in the eye.
Severus couldn't fully comprehend what was it he saw in her eyes, but he knew it pierced him right through the heart. His body reacted as if it had been charged with electricity. Tears sprung to his eyes, his throat got tight and the gentlest sense of peace settled over him like a blanket. No one had ever looked at him like that, no one had ever said those words to him.
" Miss Gardner..." he whispered, his voice lacking its usual firmness. " I..."
" Don't worry, I'll keep your secret about everything that happened here last night..." she hurried to speak, not wanting him to say anything or she wouldn't be able to keep her emotions at bay any longer.
Snape seemed to understand and noticed she was about to add something. " But?"
" But… will you be OK? I mean, last night you were seriously ill and I don't intend to know why, but… are you sure it won't happen again?" She asked anxiously.
Her concern for his well-being touched Severus and he had to struggle to keep in control. " No, I am not. But I am fine now and I trust I will be able to heal again the next time it happens, if it happens," he replied.
Kyra nodded. " I… I have to go, breakfast will be served in half an hour and I have to get ready."
" Are you planning on attending classes today?"
" Yeah…"
" After the night you've just had you could remain in your room. I'm sure Albus will find a way to excuse you…" he suggested, but she shook her head.
" No, I'm OK. And I could say the same thing to you, but I bet it's not gonna work."
He gave her a half-smile. " You are correct."
" Then I will see you at the dungeons..."
" Don't be tardy," he reminded her before she crossed the threshold and was out of his sight.
***
" What's wrong with you, Ky?" Asked John.
Kyra yawned for the 156th time that morning. " What do you mean?" She asked, suddenly realizing she was sitting at the DADA class.
" You didn't participate in class today, not even once! And I know you had done the assignments, we did them together."
She sighed. " I know, Johnny."
" Then what is it?" Asked Marianne.
" You seem… spaced out," added Hélène.
" It's nothing, guys. Really. I'm just a little tired, I didn't sleep well last night," she replied.
Well, that much was true. She wasn't lying to them, just holding back some information.
" Oh, then Snape is definitely going to brighten your day! I bet he doesn't sleep either and spends all his nights planning new sadist schemes..."
" Oh, cut the man some slack, John!" Kyra snapped.
She was tired, irritable and her muscles ached horribly. Of course, she wasn't supposed to take it out on her three awed-looking friends, but John's comment had definitely touched a nerve.
' If you only knew how the poor man spent last night,' she thought. Before she knew, she had stood up and left the classroom, entirely surprising her friends and Professor Lupin.
It was at the dungeons where they met again. Kyra was already inside, along with some other Slytherins, preparing her things for the class ahead, but only able to think of Snape.
" Ky, you're definitely not OK," said John, coming to stand by her and her cauldron.
" I'll live, John," she replied shortly, just as the Potions Master entered the classroom, doing his best to keep his eyes from darting towards Kyra's figure. The boy had no other choice but to leave her and go to sit behind her.
Severus, tired as he was, didn't even feel like assigning a complex potion. Instead, he chose to remind his students of the upcoming NEWTS.
" Of primary importance," he said, " is that you get top grades on your NEWTS. Of course, I do not expect any of you to understand its relevance at this point. All you know about is eating candies, talking nonsense and having a broomstick between your legs! "
At that point, John burst into laughter. Snape nearly floated until he was towering over the young Gryffindor.
" Is there something amusing Mister Reid? Do share," he said sternly.
" I'm sorry, Professor," he muttered, turning red in embarrassment.
Severus looked pleased. " My, my, someone has quite the gutter mind," he mocked. " Sweet Merlin, Mr. Reid, you make Longbottom look like the epitome of intelligence!"
" I do not appreciate comparisons of such kind, Professor," replied John, glowering at him.
" Ten points from Gryffindor for your audacity. Quo usque tandem abutere, Mr. Reid, patientia nostra?" Rhetorically asked Snape, walking away from the boy's desk.
" Beg you pardon?" Asked John and, angry at not receiving an answer, was about to call out for Snape and not in a very nice way.
Trying to avoid a scene, Kyra turned to him. " He's asking for how long will you continue to abuse our patience, Johnny," she whispered to the Gryffindor as low as she could.
It was not low enough, though. Severus Snape had always taken pride on his highly-developed sense of hearing and he had caught Kyra's words. Now she had managed to literally knock the wind out of him; since when eighteen-year-olds knew Latin?
As he turned, eyeing her with an exploratory look, Kyra knew he had heard her and braced herself for what was about to come.
" Is proficiency in Latin another of your many talents, Miss Gardner?" He sneered. But Ky knew him better than that and could tell the man was bewildered.
" No, Sir. My father... he studied Latin when he was young and I just loved hearing him recite in that language. I guess I picked something up from that," she replied softly.
" Then give me a reason why I should not punish your friend. In Latin," he commanded.
" Sunt pueri pueri, puerilia tractant. (Children are children, children do childish things). There is no need to punish anyone for that," said Kyra, after thinking for a few seconds. " Errare humanum est, Professor. It was just a laugh, there was no harm done."
Snape's brows arched. " Very impressive, Miss Gardner. However, " risu inepto res ineptior nulla est. (There is nothing more foolish than a foolish laugh)," he stated.
Kyra understood what he meant and, tactfully, dropped the subject, remaining silent.
" Good. Praeceptores suos adulescens veneratur et suspicit. (A young man respects and looks up to his teachers)."
She just smiled.
" Detention for a week, Mr. Reid. Oh, and do bring gloves... there are many jars I need to have cleaned and only Merlin knows what I used to store in them."
John wrinkled his nose but made no comment and the rest of the class went on as usual. When the bell rang, Snape addressed at them once again. " And remember: Assiduus usus uni rei deditus et ingenium et artem saepe vincit (Constant practice devoted to one subject often outdoes both intelligence and skill)."
Kyra left the classroom smiling, followed close by John.
Having walked only a few paces from the classroom, a voice called out for her. " Hey, Gardner!"
She turned and so did John, only to face a sneering Pomroy Parkinson.
" You can show off your intelligence all you like. It doesn't change the fact that you are a..." he started, but was cut short by John.
" Got a problem, Parkinson?"
" I was only talking to your little mudblood friend," he said, causing many Slytherins to laugh contemptuously.
" You better look out or you'll have no tongue left, you filthy lowlife bastard," warned the Gryffindor, pulling out his wand.
Kyra decided to intervene. " Ignore him, Johnny... let's go," she said, and dragged him behind her.
But as soon as they had left the dungeons, they faced Pomroy's sister, Pansy, and Draco Malfoy.
" Oh, here comes Head Girl," she mocked.
" Really, a mudblood as Head Girl. This place is going to the dogs!" He snorted.
Kyra had to stop John, who was about to make a dive for the boy's carotide before speaking. " Fac et vives (get a life), Malfoy."
She then strode away with John, leaving the 3rd year Slytherins staring at her in awe. Well, if they ever found out what she dared to do a month later...
***
A million thanks to all my readers/reviewers! Even if I do have fun writing this story, you are the ones who make the whole process worth it. Please keep telling me what you think.
Love, Jeanne.